Sport- & Leisure horses

Learn aboutthe characteristics of eachstage of production, or select aproductgroup of therespectiveproductionsection.

Foals and young horses

during the first three hours:

Intake of colostrum - in case of need by a nurse mare or conserved colostrum (emergency service for foals).

after weaning:

Preventing a lack of essential amino acids and B vitamins

2-6 month:

Watch for a sufficient Ca:P- und vitamin D- supply to enable an optimum skeletal development

Avoid intensive feeding and rapid growth (the main cause of developmental disorders of the skeleton, especially osteochondrosis)

Young horses:

Pasture rearing as possible due to weather conditions

Energy / protein supply are backed up to the pasture during the main phase of growth, supplementation with concentrate only on food shortages. An additional supply of minerals and trace elements should be ensured.

Mares and stallions

Barren mares and mares during early pregnancy

Feedstuffs that are rich in carotene (grass silage, carrots, grass meal pellets) and ß-carotene and vitamin A containing active ingredient supplements support the heat cycle.

Observe the feed conditions at the time of breeding; if the bodily condition is less than average this will delay heat.

Sufficient Na supply for good intestinal activity of the mare and foals (meconium passage)

Supplementing Cu, Se and iodine as well as vitamin A and E for positive foetal development and a good quality

Lactating mares

To prevent digestive disorders, do not adjust the ration to the increasing energy and protein requirements until 3 days after foaling

Concentrated feed must be adjusted to the special requirements of the mare and the foals and must have a sufficient content of amino acids (lysine and methionine), fatty acids, vitamins and minerals

Breeding stallions

Higher energy and nutrients requirements some weeks before and during the breeding season

The protein requirements increase 3-fold during the breeding season.

A sufficient supply of essential amino acids (8 g of lysine and 5 g of methionine and cystine per 100kg of live weight and per day) will ensure a high sperm quality.

The sperm quality of problem stallions can be improved by carnitine and linoleic acid-containing vegetable oil (20-40ml per 100 kg of live weight and per day).

Minerals and active ingredients requirements are similar to those of mares during late pregnancy.

Sports- and leisure horses

The basis for of any diet are sufficient quantities of high-quality roughage (hay, silage, straw), only power requirement is met by concentrated feed. Besides the race the intensity of use affects the need.

Leisure horses

High-quality roughage (hey, silage, straw), as basis for the ration

Due to less energy diets for leisure horses there are risks of mineral and trace element deficiency or imbalance

Active agents, mineral- and trace elements must be balanced with suitable mineral feed

Sodium should be at free disposal by a non-mineralized salt block

Sport horses

When feeding sport horses the physical load is the matter to be decided.

The partial short-term, but also partly sustained straining of the muscles in horses doing dressage and show jumping means a mix of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism and energy should be gained from both (undigested) corn as well as from high-fat components

During long periods of physical load (e.g. distance and eventing), the muscles work in the aerobic zone and can easily become too acidic

A limited supply of carbohydrates, based on easily fermentable fiber and high-fat components as energy suppliers helps prevent muscle acidification

The increased need of minerals, trace elements and active agents of sport horses should be balanced with a tailor-made mineral to meet their minerals needs.